KIRKUS REVIEW

Debut novelist Bright impresses with
a nuanced tale of a woman who can’t break free of an abusive relationship.

DJ Toni Jones may be a rising star
on Charleston, South Carolina, radio, but her cool, professional exterior masks
a troubled personal life. She and her suave husband, Marvin, are the ultimate
power couple—she has a show on radio station Q101.5, and he’s part owner of the
city’s hottest nightclub. But when Marvin’s dreams of a music production career
collapse amid legal troubles, he turns violent, resentful of his wife’s success
and jealous of the attention that she receives from other men. One of his
vicious attacks nearly kills Toni, but she refuses to press charges and takes
him back, much to her family’s dismay. Marvin cleans up his act (and skeptical
readers may raise an eyebrow at this about-face), but the resulting period of
domestic bliss is only temporary. His new job as a trucker keeps him away from
home for days at a time, and soon, he’s romancing a sexy stripper named Angela.
However, Marvin hasn’t lost his violent tendencies, and, eventually, Toni is
forced to make a decision that will change her life forever. Bright’s
fast-moving, engaging novel shows how even a strong, successful woman can find
herself a victim of domestic violence. Subtle hints about Toni’s past
illustrate how she learned to accept and justify violent behavior from men, and
her rationalizations for taking Marvin back, though infuriating, make sense in
the context of her character: “In the end, love and my determination to help
him always overpowered me.” Marvin, for his part, is equal parts despicable and
attractive; when he’s on his best behavior, it’s easy to see why Toni might be
lulled into a false sense of security. He also has his own demons that help
explain, but not justify, his behavior. The dialogue is spirited, and although
some situations are overly dramatic, they never cross the line into
unbelievability.

A successful portrayal of the
complex psychology of an abuse victim and a gripping story of a love gone sour.

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.